Another "does anyone remember this" Question
Submitted: Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 20:09
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PMK
Hi all,
Firstly thanks to all of you that replied with info on my last post regarding
Barry Caves... Here's another one to try your memories.
Back in the middle of the 1983 dry season in
Darwin there was a fella who tried to drive a Toyota FJ40 across
Darwin Harbour..... That's right under
water. From memory he was sponsored by Hardi Iplex (in better Times) They supplied the pvc conduit for the air intake & exhaust that were to follow on the surface in a tinny. ...... I know it sounds like I'm making this up but it really did happen.... Really..... I was living in
Darwin at the time & once again can't find anything about this on the net. I do remember he was unsuccessful & the car sat in the car
park in front of Fannie Bay shops for a long time after. Does anyone recall this event or am I dreaming again?
PMK
Reply By: Ken - Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 20:23
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 20:23
No not dreaming, there were photos of the Toyota in various mags. Must have been a few less crocs about then eh.
Ken
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: PMK - Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 20:29
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 20:29
Ken,
At least someone else has heard of this.... Thanks. I think visibility was poor...... Maybe the crocs could see them Ha!
PMK
FollowupID:
520732
Reply By: Willem - Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 20:26
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 20:26
PMK
I lived in
Darwin for many years but in 1983 I was o'seas. I do recall hearing of this event however. Maybe someone from the
Darwin Toyota Club will remember. Maybe George NT a Member here on the
Forum will read this and respond...if the old bugger remembers...hahahahaha
Talking about
Barry Caves. I saw a
sign marking Barry C....(letters faded) out on the Ranken Stock Route the other day near Alexandria Downs Station
Cheers
AnswerID:
259279
Follow Up By: PMK - Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 20:36
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 20:36
Thanks Willem,
I will just have to wait...... I expect anyone in
Darwin at the time would remember it.
Interesting that ther is still a
sign for
Barry Caves around. The place must have been gone for more than 20 years now! Also the
Barkly Highway has changed route a bit over the years & I don't think it passes the old site any more.
PMK
FollowupID:
520735
Follow Up By: Willem - Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 20:56
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 20:56
More on
Barry Caves( brain cells working again...lol)
T'was about 1971 and we pulled in there at around 11pm at night for fuel, some tucker and a beer. Was driving a Renault 10 in those days(my first 4x4..lol)
Some Ringers were in off a station partying their wages away. At one stage someone wrestled a poddy calf into the bar and we all scattered. Another
young fella fell of his bar stool as drunk as a skunk. His mates hauled him up and tied him securely to the Bullbar of a Kenworth Prime Mover and drove down the track at 100kmh to sober him up....LOL...true!!!!! The fellas stayed there till their money ran out and then ventured back to work in the heat for another three months doing mustering, branding, riding the boundry and repairing windmills. What a life!!!
Cheers
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: PMK - Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 21:24
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 21:24
Barry Caves seems to have a huge history..... certainly more than just a roadhouse. I had a few stories like yours on the original post a couple of weeks ago. Sad to think that these things are vanishing from the Australian
outback way of life. This country is all so assessable these days!
PMK
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: PMK - Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 21:27
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 21:27
Sorry accessible... Bloody spell check
PMK
FollowupID:
520757
Follow Up By: Pajman Pete (SA) - Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 17:30
Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 17:30
I drove my Ford Escort to
Darwin in 1984 via Mt Isa. When I got to
Barry Caves there was a
sign out;
"No Petrol till Thursday"
THere were about 10 vehicles pulled up and camped waiting for the truck to arrive. Luckily I was carrying spare fuel and could continue on to 3 ways.
Pete
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: PMK - Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 17:48
Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 17:48
Hi Pete,
Very similar experience to
mine back in 1982 But I bought fuel from another traveller........
PMK
FollowupID:
520898
Follow Up By: Trevor R (QLD) - Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 20:18
Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 20:18
So Willem, how do I get to this "Barry Caves" sounds like a great place to be.
Trevor.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Willem - Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 21:09
Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 21:09
Trevor
Go to the Isa. The keep going west till you cross over the NT Border. Then go past
Avon Downs. Its out there somewhere west of that. Look for a bulldozed piece of dirt on the left hand side of the road. Further to the left there are some low hills with shelters in them. They are the
Barry Caves,
Cheers
FollowupID:
520961
Reply By: Big Mike - Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 20:37
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 20:37
Yeah, I saw the photos and remember he was unsucessful, suprise.
But thats all, xxxx has erased any other brain cell r.a.m.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: PMK - Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 20:40
Tuesday, Aug 28, 2007 at 20:40
Thanks Big Mike,
I think we are all suffering from that ........ Oh! and old age Ha Ha
What was I talking about?
PMK
FollowupID:
520739
Reply By: nickoff - Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 06:19
Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 06:19
Yes, I remember it
well. Team of divers going up and down to keep bottom times down. vehicle was covered in "tar" to waterproof as much as they could, but the attempt failed about 2/3 way across because the ran into some rocks and stalled the motor. When the set up the vehivle, the didnt have time to convert it from eletric starter to air starter. The starter motor filled with
water and shorted out.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: PMK - Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 17:57
Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 17:57
Nickoff,
Thats right, Thanks for filling in some more of the gaps in my memory of the event. You would think that if you were trying to do this you would take time & prepare properly........... Then again I do remember
Darwin being a lot more relaxed in those days.
PMK
FollowupID:
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